Battle of Molino del Rey

The Battle of Molino del Rey (8 September 1847) was a major battle of the Mexican-American War that occurred when the 4,000-strong Mexican army of General Antonio Leon attempted to delay the advance of the 9,800-strong American army of Winfield Scott as it advanced on Mexico City. The battle occurred after Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna decided to plan a breakout from Mexico City rather than surrender to Scott's army, and Scott sent William J. Worth to destroy a Mexican cannon foundry at Molino del Rey to stop the Mexicans from burning down church bells and turning them into cannonballs. The Americans came under intense artillery fire from the Mexicans, who stoutly defended the foundry and launched a few counterattacks, and they suffered heavy losses before killing Leon and destroying the factory. The Americans found the factory with just a few gun molds inside of it, and Scott still needed a path towards Mexico City; the battle was a pyrrhic American victory, as it achieved nothing.